Comments on: How-To: Image Windows XP with Ghost and Sysprep http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep chaos is the score upon which reality is written Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:07:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Hisham http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8647 Hisham Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:35:46 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8647 It gets tricky here but I usually dump all the driver files and leave them there. If I was hurting for space then I may put in a bit more effort to see exactly what needed to be installed. It gets tricky here but I usually dump all the driver files and leave them there. If I was hurting for space then I may put in a bit more effort to see exactly what needed to be installed.

]]> By: Help? http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8644 Help? Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:24:25 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8644 Hisham, I was wondering if you could offer some advice to a fellow hobbyist about drivers. I can follow everything up to Step 13, but have some trouble understanding what exactly you would put in these folders. Let's use a theoretical Acme Network Card for this example. Would I just go to www.acmenetworkcarddrivers.com, find my model, and download a single file there? Will the drivers for my Acme card just be one file, say AcmeCard.dll? I'm confused about drivers and what files actually make them up. Hisham, I was wondering if you could offer some advice to a fellow hobbyist about drivers. I can follow everything up to Step 13, but have some trouble understanding what exactly you would put in these folders. Let’s use a theoretical Acme Network Card for this example. Would I just go to http://www.acmenetworkcarddrivers.com, find my model, and download a single file there? Will the drivers for my Acme card just be one file, say AcmeCard.dll? I’m confused about drivers and what files actually make them up.

]]> By: Hisham http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8612 Hisham Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:16:52 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8612 @Don Seibert: If you're managing a number of images then it behooves you to check out Microsoft Deployment Toolkit which is designed to make your life easier. This is one of those times that having a "master" computer for each hardware type is useful. However, you may be able to do the same thing with a strategy involving VMware or VirtualBox. I'm not sure if the Windows XP HAL issue will cause problems with this strategy but it's worth exploring. As far as drivers, I usually dump the entire contents of a driver into its directory because it's far too time consuming to figure out which files are needed without digging through INF files and/or tracking a driver installer's behavior. These days, a few extra megabytes just isn't worth the time. You should also take a look at this thread on a possible strategy: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/121224-can-i-update-a-sysprep-image-with-imagex-append/ I'm only a hobbyist so take my advice with a grain of salt. @Don Seibert: If you’re managing a number of images then it behooves you to check out Microsoft Deployment Toolkit which is designed to make your life easier.

This is one of those times that having a “master” computer for each hardware type is useful. However, you may be able to do the same thing with a strategy involving VMware or VirtualBox. I’m not sure if the Windows XP HAL issue will cause problems with this strategy but it’s worth exploring.

As far as drivers, I usually dump the entire contents of a driver into its directory because it’s far too time consuming to figure out which files are needed without digging through INF files and/or tracking a driver installer’s behavior. These days, a few extra megabytes just isn’t worth the time.

You should also take a look at this thread on a possible strategy: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/121224-can-i-update-a-sysprep-image-with-imagex-append/

I’m only a hobbyist so take my advice with a grain of salt.

]]> By: Don Seibert http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8611 Don Seibert Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:31:58 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8611 Also, what files are neccesary to go into the drivers directory. Do you need all the install files and support files or will only the .inf files do. Thank you. Also, what files are neccesary to go into the drivers directory. Do you need all the install files and support files or will only the .inf files do.

Thank you.

]]> By: Don Seibert http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8610 Don Seibert Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:25:56 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8610 Is there a way to update the image once it is sysprepped? I am going to be managing a number of images but don't have all the hardware to update with. Thank you. Is there a way to update the image once it is sysprepped? I am going to be managing a number of images but don’t have all the hardware to update with.

Thank you.

]]> By: Mikael Sundlin http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8405 Mikael Sundlin Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:01:35 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8405 @Linda If your mouse get stuck in the mini installation take a look at this =) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283079 GL @Linda
If your mouse get stuck in the mini installation take a look at this =)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283079

GL

]]> By: Chaos http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8404 Chaos Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:55:56 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8404 Is it possible to modify the sysprep file to look for additional drivers AFTER the sysprep image has been made? I have an image that is already made, and I need to add support for a different model. In the past I have added support for new models by ghosting my image to the new model, renaming the C:\drivers folder, letting the machine setup, and adding the drivers to my c:\drivers folder and re-sysprepping. I have been wondering if it is possible just to modify the sysprep.inf OemPNPDriversPath to add the new path and just put the drivers into the image and be done with it. Is it possible to modify the sysprep file to look for additional drivers AFTER the sysprep image has been made? I have an image that is already made, and I need to add support for a different model. In the past I have added support for new models by ghosting my image to the new model, renaming the C:\drivers folder, letting the machine setup, and adding the drivers to my c:\drivers folder and re-sysprepping. I have been wondering if it is possible just to modify the sysprep.inf OemPNPDriversPath to add the new path and just put the drivers into the image and be done with it.

]]> By: Hisham http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8394 Hisham Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:19:00 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8394 @Johan: I'm sure people have found ways to do this without additional software but I know of two programs that can help achieve this feat. One is Acronis Trueimage with Universal Restore. The other is Ghost Solution Suite. Once you build a base image, you can restore onto any machine using either software. @Johan: I’m sure people have found ways to do this without additional software but I know of two programs that can help achieve this feat. One is Acronis Trueimage with Universal Restore. The other is Ghost Solution Suite. Once you build a base image, you can restore onto any machine using either software.

]]> By: Johan Michel Struijk http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8393 Johan Michel Struijk Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:06:51 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8393 I do this quite a bit also but I only run into trouble when a system has a different motherboard... is there any way to make it totally hardware independent (while still keeping all the applications and settings I have set up)..? I do this quite a bit also but I only run into trouble when a system has a different motherboard… is there any way to make it totally hardware independent (while still keeping all the applications and settings I have set up)..?

]]> By: Dick Treen http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8276 Dick Treen Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:30:56 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8276 Thank you for this excellent tutorial Hisham. I have a small, 4 station network and have used sysprep to transfer XP with updated software from 1 machine to the other 3. My problem is that I find the nodes in the workgroup under "Microsoft Windows Network" although having the correct individual names, are duplicated in their sub-structure. This means the have the same shared drives and folders etc. as the source machine instead of their own. Please can you tell me if this is fixable? Thank you for this excellent tutorial Hisham. I have a small, 4 station network and have used sysprep to transfer XP with updated software from 1 machine to the other 3. My problem is that I find the nodes in the workgroup under “Microsoft Windows Network” although having the correct individual names, are duplicated in their sub-structure. This means the have the same shared drives and folders etc. as the source machine instead of their own. Please can you tell me if this is fixable?

]]> By: Hisham http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8182 Hisham Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:47:30 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8182 @Linda: You should probably call UIU's support facility because I don't have any experience with that particular piece of software. Good luck. @Linda:

You should probably call UIU’s support facility because I don’t have any experience with that particular piece of software. Good luck.

]]> By: Linda http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8180 Linda Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:51:42 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8180 Hi, Very good site. We are having a problem using UIU and Sysprep. The computer hangs while doing the mini-setup looking for a driver. The mouse and keyboard stop functioning so we are stuck. Any advise. Thanks in advance for your support. Linda Hi,

Very good site. We are having a problem using UIU and Sysprep. The computer hangs while doing the mini-setup looking for a driver. The mouse and keyboard stop functioning so we are stuck. Any advise. Thanks in advance for your support.

Linda

]]> By: Khaled http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8136 Khaled Thu, 29 May 2008 16:14:28 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8136 Do you know how to image the XP to a network location? Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your help ! Khaled Do you know how to image the XP to a network location?

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate your help !
Khaled

]]> By: Hisham http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8030 Hisham Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:18:06 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8030 @dave: the problem isn't the driver itself. The problem is the helper applications the driver can install that go haywire when they don't detect the card they were installed for. If your card allows just the driver to be installed then you should be okay. @dave: the problem isn’t the driver itself. The problem is the helper applications the driver can install that go haywire when they don’t detect the card they were installed for. If your card allows just the driver to be installed then you should be okay.

]]> By: dave http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/comment-page-3#comment-8029 dave Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:48:49 +0000 http://blog.hishamrana.com/2006/02/22/how-to-image-windows-xp-with-ghost-and-sysprep/#comment-8029 You mention that the base OS shouldn't have have any other drivers installed other then the ones the OS found. In my case the NIC card wasn't found. Therefore, I won't be able to install all the Window updates and security patches without the card. So if I install the driver, will this have an affect on other machines that don't have the same card? Dave You mention that the base OS shouldn’t have have any other drivers installed other then the ones the OS found.
In my case the NIC card wasn’t found. Therefore, I won’t be able to install all the Window updates and security patches without the card. So if I install the driver, will this have an affect on other machines that don’t have the same card?

Dave

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